Manchester City Council

Sustainable Northmoor Urban Greening (SNUG)

  1. “For me, the most notable thing has been how people have engaged and want to be involved, just seeing people using the space to have their lunch, read a book, or walk and chat with friends fills my heart with joy!”

    – Claire. SNUG’s Director and Project Manager.

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  3. Address

    Boardman Gate Entrance Mayfield Park Baring Street, Manchester M1 2PY

  4. Value/Worth:

    £93,000 (includes 1000 hours  volunteer time, in kind support and donations)

  5. Timeline

    Started 2024 to Ongoing

  6. Background

    SNUG (Sustainable Northmoor Urban Greening) is a project run by Longsight Community Art Space, collaborating with local residents and other community groups to enhance green spaces throughout the Northmoor area of Longsight, Manchester. As one of the most nature-deprived wards in Manchester, SNUG aimed to change this. The key to the SNUG project is its ability to create and maintain working relationships with useful organisations that have helped with resources, skills, events, and so on. Partners include In Our Nature, the Orchard Project, MCC Parks, Manchester City Centre Neighbourhoods, and Greater Manchester Green Spaces.

  7. Projects

    So far, the SNUG project has planted street trees and has partnered with Stanley Grove School and Bollyfit Civil Society Consulting to revitalise a community garden on the school grounds. This garden is intended for use by community groups for growing vegetables and learning gardening skills. One of the most significant projects SNUG have delivered has been the creation of the Crowcroft Park Orchard Garden. Over the course of 8 months, the group worked tirelessly to transform a disused bowling green in Crowcroft Park into a flourishing community orchard garden. With the help of Sow the City and the Manchester City Council, who granted permission to use the green and remove fencing. Utilising forest gardening and permaculture techniques, the team engaged with the local community to cultivate a brand-new orchard. Over 1,000 hours of volunteer labour have led to the planting of 55 fruit trees, six berry bushes, 137 hedgerow whips, and thousands of seeds, herbs, shrubs, and perennial bedding plants. The project has also included the installation of seating areas, a pond, pathways, and Hugelkultur Beds. SNUG also worked closely with businesses such as Wickes who donated tools and equipment. Garden on a Roll and Meadow in my Garden also helped with plants and expertise.

  8. Outcomes

    The SNUG project has had a significant impact on the local area. The team has observed a marked change in the landscape and a substantial increase in biodiversity, particularly in the old bowling green orchard. Key outcomes of the project include positive effects on the climate, pollution mitigation, shade provision, heat absorption, enhanced well-being, and increased food production. The Greater Manchester Mayor planted Spring bulbs at the opening event In October 2024.  In collaboration with City of Trees, the Orchard Project, and local community volunteers, a further 36 trees (plus hundreds of shrubs and flowers) have since been planted. One notable outcome is the increased engagement of the community, with local residents eager to participate and use the green space for leisure, health, and socialising. The Orchard Project noted that the people in the area were determined and engaged. This was evidenced by a tree-planting day in December that attracted 70 volunteers from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and age groups. Overall, SNUG has been a success for both nature and the community. This success was recognised with a first-place award at the 2025 Be Proud Awards and being shortlisted in 2024 for the Spirit of Manchester Awards. The engagement and improvements keep going and on International Women's Day, SNUG volunteers completed work on a new pond for the area, which will significantly enhance the local biodiversity.

  9. Learning/Challenges:

    The challenges of managing a project of this size can be significant and time-consuming. Although many individuals were said to be interested in and invested in the spaces, it can sometimes be difficult to build a committed core team to shoulder the project's responsibilities. Caire from SNUG Orchard explained that the behind-the-scenes tasks such as administration, fundraising, budgeting, and even weeding are never as exciting as planting a tree, and the SNUG team often faced challenges with staffing and volunteer time commitment. Additionally, ongoing sustainability and legacy of the SNUG project is challenging. The team needs to be able to ensure that the community is kept engaged and increases their ownership of the site so that it doesn’t become neglected or dependent on a few key stakeholders. All of this requires ongoing funding and has costs attached. 

  10. Future

    The next steps for the SNUG team is to keep hosting lots more activities that engage the community and help to secure the future of the orchard site and other greening in Longsight.

    There are plans for wellbeing sessions, nature-based art and craft workshops and school holiday family activities. A pop-up cafe with food-based classes using the edible plants grown on site will also be explored.

  11. For more information:

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